Definitely happy to see efforts being made to ensure quality works are being sold/displayed at Art Walk. As the name indicates, it has been and should continue to be an event for Art & Unique HANDMADE goods, not cheap applicances & jewelry picked up at auctions & flea markets and being re-sold. Flea markets do have their place, and I love 'em too... just not at "Art Walk." Having said that, I do wonder/hope that the proposed new rules are finalized & enforced in such a way as to maintain the variety of talented vendors & musicians who are just individuals (not business owners) we've come to love at Art Walk. I was a bit confused by the part about special permits being required to sell work not sold in the store... does this mean that without special permits there will be no more artists outside coffee shops/clothing stores/and huge venues like McMartin Realty because they are not a)the business owners or b)selling the goods normally sold in the business? What is the proposed cost of said permit and where do the funds collected go? The wrong answers to those questions could remove a GREAT DEAL of the ART from Art Walk. It would be a real shame to see this become just another corporate event that excludes the "little" artists & crafters that currently make it unique. And I DO hope they aren't too hard on the musicians-- I know many people who find them as much of a 2nd Saturday draw as the arts & crafts. Our city's ordinances are pretty strict with musicians already (ex: bums can beg for money providing nothing in return, but musicians can't play with a hat/music case accepting donations? Seems skewed). I know there are many efforts going into further increasing Sacramento's appeal as an artistically & culturally rich city... the best way to have known artists & musicians from your city is to support them & help them AS they grow, leaving them "hometown proud" once they've "made it."

Very excited to check out Midtown Temple and see the culmination of all that work and pursuit of perfection. Sounds like an amazing atmosphere to sit and indulge in the perfect beverage.

I am both honored and exited to participate in this kick-off "Design Downtown." It will take a lot of publicity, an open mind from the public, and cooperation of all parties involved but I think this could morph into Sacramento's small but thriving version of the Santa Monica 3rd Street Promenade with proper support. If we all get together and support events like this when they're new and need it, it will not only stimulate Sacramento's local economy, but also give us unique, community events to take friends and family to when they come visit. Please come, bring friends, because great fairs/street markets don't flourish overnight, and definitely not without community support/attendance.